It's a morbid question but after the recent spate of deaths in 2016 developing into the worst ever year for celebrities?

And if so, is there any reason? The answer to both questions it seems is, quite possibly, yes.

Already this year we’ve seen the passing of North East favourites Denise Robertson, Brendan Healy and Paul Daniels.

Nationally and internationally, just this week there’s been Prince and Victoria Wood, while since the turn of the year there’s been David Bowie, Terry Wogan, George Martin, Alan Rickman and Ronnie Corbett.

It might not be a coincidence. Pre 1950s, celebrities were usually movie stars, sports people or royalty. Then TV became king introducing a new category celebrity.

Dr Lee Barron, principal lecturer in media at Northumbria University, said: “People who made their names say in the 1960s are now reaching their 70s and 80s and are dying off, so there’s a natural element.

“Then there is the change in the nature of celebrity and the celebrity landscape.

“We’re seeing the likes of the cast of TOWIE and Geordie Shore becoming household names, you have stars of social media - the spectrum of celebrities has increased exponentially.”

This has meant that an unlikely grouping of people classed as celebrities as they shuffle of this mortal coil.

Of late these have included drug dealer turned author Howard Marks, architect Zaha Hadid, writer Harper Lee, disgraced former Tony Minister Cecil Parkinson, footballing legend Johan Cruyff and perhaps most appropriately, David Gest, a nice guy but perhaps famous for being famous.

Dr Barron added: “And of course another change is we are made much more aware of these deaths when they happen. It’s not a case of a report in the newspapers and on TV. There’s Facebook, twitter.”

The facts are bearing this out. The BBC has said it compared the number of obituaries it broadcast on its outlets from January to March in every year from 2012 to 2016. In that time the number has increased from five to 24.

And a national newspaper which keeps an up-to-date gallery of famous people who have died said by this time in 2014, the number of those in it was 38. Today it is 75.

Meanwhile there’s the website deathlist.net which lists 50 celebrities it believes may pass away that year. in 2009 it correctly said Sir Bobby Robson would pass away.

In six of the last 10 years, two or fewer of its predictions had come true by this time - this year, five names have died so far.

Whatever the reason, while it is keeping the media busy, it causing heartache fans which looks set to continue.